(Reuters)
Haitian hip-hop star and presidential hopeful Wyclef Jean has turned to song to accuse outgoing President Rene Preval of engineering his rejection as a candidate for the November election.
Local radio stations broadcast a song by Jean in Creole in which he called for the jailing of electoral officials who last week disqualified him and for the first time directly blamed Preval.
The 40-year-old Haitian-born, U.S.-based celebrity, who has an enthusiastic youth following in his poor homeland, is challenging his rejection, which was based on him not meeting residency requirements.
The dispute has raised fears of tensions that could disrupt the Caribbean nation's rebuilding after a massive Jan. 12 earthquake that killed up to 300,000 people.
In his Creole composition entitled Prizon Pou K.E.P. a (Jail for the Provisional Electoral Council), a sombre-voiced Jean sings that Preval "expelled me from the race."
"I know all the cards are in your hands . . . I voted for you to be president in 2006, why today did you reject my candidacy?" the song says, addressing Preval, who cannot seek re-election after serving two terms as president.
"It's not Wyclef that you have expelled, it is the youth you have denied . . . it's the population you have denied, it's the peasants you have denied," Jean sings. He also posted the song on his Twitter page https://twitter. com/wyclef.
Preval had been informed about the song but did not immediately react, aides said.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Caribbean Peoples Unite For Haiti
(CARIBBEAT - Jared McCallister)
Haiti in hearts of West Indian parade planners
Though its roots are in Trinidad and Tobago, the West Indian American Day Carnival Parade has always been an all-inclusive Caribbean affair, and this year, Haiti's going to get some special attention, according to carnival spokeswoman Jean Alexander.
Under the theme "Bridging Cultures," the 43rd annual festivities will include a benefit concert on Thursday for survivors of Haiti's Jan. 12 earthquake. The Thursday show kicks off the annual five-day event, which culminates with the massive carnival parade on Labor Day, Sept. 6, along Brooklyn's Eastern Parkway.
The parade of costume and music and floats begins at noon at Schenectady Ave. and Eastern Parkway. WIADCA President Yolanda Lezama-Clark cuts a ribbon to start the procession, which travels down the parkway to Grand Army Plaza.
Showtime is 7 p.m. Admission is $30 and $35 at the door.
The benefit and other pre-parade shows will be held on the Brooklyn Museum grounds, 200 Eastern Parkway (entrance on Washington Ave.).
Haiti in hearts of West Indian parade planners
Though its roots are in Trinidad and Tobago, the West Indian American Day Carnival Parade has always been an all-inclusive Caribbean affair, and this year, Haiti's going to get some special attention, according to carnival spokeswoman Jean Alexander.
Under the theme "Bridging Cultures," the 43rd annual festivities will include a benefit concert on Thursday for survivors of Haiti's Jan. 12 earthquake. The Thursday show kicks off the annual five-day event, which culminates with the massive carnival parade on Labor Day, Sept. 6, along Brooklyn's Eastern Parkway.
The parade of costume and music and floats begins at noon at Schenectady Ave. and Eastern Parkway. WIADCA President Yolanda Lezama-Clark cuts a ribbon to start the procession, which travels down the parkway to Grand Army Plaza.
Showtime is 7 p.m. Admission is $30 and $35 at the door.
The benefit and other pre-parade shows will be held on the Brooklyn Museum grounds, 200 Eastern Parkway (entrance on Washington Ave.).
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Wyclef Cannot Appeal Haiti`s Election Council Ruling
CaribWorldNews, PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, Weds. Aug. 25, 2010: Haitian-born Grammy Award-winning singer, Wyclef Jean, cannot appeal his disqualification from the upcoming Presidential election in his homeland.
That`s the word from the country`s provisional electoral council. A lawyer from the council said Tuesday that the council`s ruling is final and cannot be appealed.
Samuel Pierre of the council`s legal department told Reuters that, under article 191 of Haiti`s electoral law, rulings by the election authority`s disputes tribunal are definitive and cannot be appealed.
`Therefore there is absolutely no possibility for Wyclef Jean to be added to the list of candidates approved to run in the next presidential elections,` Pierre said. `So it`s over.`
Jean, after initially accepting his disqualification late Friday, said on Sunday he would appeal the decision which rejected his candidacy for the November 28 election.
But Council officials said Jean, who left his homeland with his family at the age of 9 to live in the United States, failed to meet residency requirements. His uncle, former Haiti ambassador to the U.S., Ray Joseph, was also disqualified, along with several other candidates.
Jean, 40, was among 34 presidential candidates vying for a spot in the election to choose a successor to President Rene Preval, who cannot run again after two terms. The council only approved 19 candidates and rejected 15 others.
Singer Sweet Mikey, whose real name is Michel Martelly, is among the 19 approved candidates, along with Axan Delson Abellard of the Konbit Nasyonal pour Devlopman (KNDA) party; Jacques Édouard Alexis of the Mobilisation pour le Progrès d`Haïti (MPH) party; Jean Hector Anacacis of the Mouvement Démocratique de la Jeunesse Haïtienne (MODEJHA); Charles Henry Jean-Marie Baker of Respè; Josette Bijou an Indépendant; Gérard Marie Necker Blot of the Platfòm 16 Désanm; Jean Henry Céant of Renmen Ayiti; Jude Célestin of INITE; Eric Charles of the PRNH; Yves Christallin of the Oganizasyon Lavni Wilson Jeudy of Fòs 2010; Jean Chavannes Jeune of the Alliance chrétienne citoyenne pour la reconstruction d`Haïti (ACCRHA); Léon J. Jeune of Konbit Liberation Ekonomik (KLE); Génard Joseph of Groupement Solidarité; Garaudy Laguerre of WOZO; Mirlande Hyppolite Manigat of Rassemblement des Démocrates Nationaux Progressistes (RDNP); Yvon Neptune of Ayisyen pou Ayiti and Leslie Voltaire of Plateforme Ansanm Nou Fò.
That`s the word from the country`s provisional electoral council. A lawyer from the council said Tuesday that the council`s ruling is final and cannot be appealed.
Samuel Pierre of the council`s legal department told Reuters that, under article 191 of Haiti`s electoral law, rulings by the election authority`s disputes tribunal are definitive and cannot be appealed.
`Therefore there is absolutely no possibility for Wyclef Jean to be added to the list of candidates approved to run in the next presidential elections,` Pierre said. `So it`s over.`
Jean, after initially accepting his disqualification late Friday, said on Sunday he would appeal the decision which rejected his candidacy for the November 28 election.
But Council officials said Jean, who left his homeland with his family at the age of 9 to live in the United States, failed to meet residency requirements. His uncle, former Haiti ambassador to the U.S., Ray Joseph, was also disqualified, along with several other candidates.
Jean, 40, was among 34 presidential candidates vying for a spot in the election to choose a successor to President Rene Preval, who cannot run again after two terms. The council only approved 19 candidates and rejected 15 others.
Singer Sweet Mikey, whose real name is Michel Martelly, is among the 19 approved candidates, along with Axan Delson Abellard of the Konbit Nasyonal pour Devlopman (KNDA) party; Jacques Édouard Alexis of the Mobilisation pour le Progrès d`Haïti (MPH) party; Jean Hector Anacacis of the Mouvement Démocratique de la Jeunesse Haïtienne (MODEJHA); Charles Henry Jean-Marie Baker of Respè; Josette Bijou an Indépendant; Gérard Marie Necker Blot of the Platfòm 16 Désanm; Jean Henry Céant of Renmen Ayiti; Jude Célestin of INITE; Eric Charles of the PRNH; Yves Christallin of the Oganizasyon Lavni Wilson Jeudy of Fòs 2010; Jean Chavannes Jeune of the Alliance chrétienne citoyenne pour la reconstruction d`Haïti (ACCRHA); Léon J. Jeune of Konbit Liberation Ekonomik (KLE); Génard Joseph of Groupement Solidarité; Garaudy Laguerre of WOZO; Mirlande Hyppolite Manigat of Rassemblement des Démocrates Nationaux Progressistes (RDNP); Yvon Neptune of Ayisyen pou Ayiti and Leslie Voltaire of Plateforme Ansanm Nou Fò.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Wyclef to appeal Haiti electoral rejection
(Reuters)
PORT-AU-PRINCE - Musician Wyclef Jean plans to appeal his rejection as a candidate in Haiti's November presidential election, his spokeswoman said on Sunday.
Haiti's provisional electoral council, the CEP, ruled on Friday night that the singer-songwriter did not meet the requirement that presidential candidates maintain five consecutive years of residency in Haiti prior to running.
Jean told his spokeswoman, Marian Salzman, that he would appeal the ruling, Salzman said.
Jean also posted a message via Twitter saying, "Tomorrow our lawyers are appealing the decision of the CEP. We have met all the requirements set by the laws. And the law must be respected."
Jean left Haiti with his family to live in New York at age 9 and launched his music career in the United States. He had presented evidence that his lawyers said showed a "constant presence" in Haiti, which is struggling to recover from January's devastating earthquake.
A source close to Jean said he would argue that the council did not follow proper legal procedures in announcing its decision.
He was among 34 presidential candidates vying for a spot in the election to choose a successor to President Rene Preval, who cannot run again after two terms. The council approved 19 candidates and rejected 15.
PORT-AU-PRINCE - Musician Wyclef Jean plans to appeal his rejection as a candidate in Haiti's November presidential election, his spokeswoman said on Sunday.
Haiti's provisional electoral council, the CEP, ruled on Friday night that the singer-songwriter did not meet the requirement that presidential candidates maintain five consecutive years of residency in Haiti prior to running.
Jean told his spokeswoman, Marian Salzman, that he would appeal the ruling, Salzman said.
Jean also posted a message via Twitter saying, "Tomorrow our lawyers are appealing the decision of the CEP. We have met all the requirements set by the laws. And the law must be respected."
Jean left Haiti with his family to live in New York at age 9 and launched his music career in the United States. He had presented evidence that his lawyers said showed a "constant presence" in Haiti, which is struggling to recover from January's devastating earthquake.
A source close to Jean said he would argue that the council did not follow proper legal procedures in announcing its decision.
He was among 34 presidential candidates vying for a spot in the election to choose a successor to President Rene Preval, who cannot run again after two terms. The council approved 19 candidates and rejected 15.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Wyclef Denied Run For President Of Haiti
(allhiphop.com)
Wyclef Jean's name has not been included on a list of approved presidential candidates for his native Haiti.
The entertainer-turned-politician sought to run for presidency and announced with much international fanfare. Jean needed to prove that he was a resident of Haiti, one of the requirements for the high office of the embattled land.
A list was released today and it included dozens of candidates, but not Jean says news service Reuters.
Earlier this week, the mega star had revealed that he was receiving death threats from those that opposed his looming campaign. Earlier Thursday, he met with the current president of Haiti and told the Associated Press the meeting was positive.
Wyclef Jean's name has not been included on a list of approved presidential candidates for his native Haiti.
The entertainer-turned-politician sought to run for presidency and announced with much international fanfare. Jean needed to prove that he was a resident of Haiti, one of the requirements for the high office of the embattled land.
A list was released today and it included dozens of candidates, but not Jean says news service Reuters.
Earlier this week, the mega star had revealed that he was receiving death threats from those that opposed his looming campaign. Earlier Thursday, he met with the current president of Haiti and told the Associated Press the meeting was positive.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Wyclef Jean in hiding after death threats!
(guardian.co.uk)
Wyclef Jean has gone into hiding following alleged death threats as he awaits an official announcement on whether he can run in Haiti's November's presidential election.
The ex-Fugees star said he was at a secret location in Haiti in defiance of threats to leave the country but revealed few details about who may be responsible for the intimidation.
Jean's presidential hopes hang in the balance as electoral officials prepare to announce whether he is eligible to run in what promises to be a tumultuous contest with dozens of candidates.
A list of candidates who meet constitutional requirements to lead the earthquake-hit country – requirements that could disqualify Jean – was due to be published yesterday but officials said several unnamed candidates remained under review and that the announcement would not be made until Friday.
In a series of emails to the Associated Press, the 40-year-old rapper said he did not know whether the electoral commission, known as the CEP, would approve his candidacy but that there had been questions about whether he met residency requirements: "We await the CEP decision but the laws of the Haitian constitution must be respected."
His lawyers were at the commission's headquarters seeking to argue his case, he said. In the same emails he announced he was in hiding but did not elaborate on the nature of the threats.
If approved, Jean will be a frontrunner, but the fact he has lived in the US since he was a boy could put a premature end to a campaign launched two weeks ago with fanfare, dancers and hype.
Legal requirements and political intrigue – few believe the decision will be based on entirely technical reasons – could sink his hopes of swapping a recording studio for power in a broken country.
Jean was born in Croix-des-Bouquets, outside the capital, Port-au-Prince. At the age of nine he moved with his family to New York, then New Jersey, and made only fleeting return visits to the Caribbean.
Opponents said his history violated constitutional requirements that a candidate must have his or her "habitual residence" in Haiti and have resided in the country for at least five consecutive years before election day. Jean said his appointment as a roving ambassador by President René Préval in 2007 exempted him from residency requirements.
The race has drawn 34 candidates from diverse backgrounds, including veteran political operators and one-man band neophytes.
"This is a very volatile situation. The easiest thing they can say is 'You are all candidates'. But I don't know if they will do that," Robert Fatton, a Haiti-born political expert at the University of Virginia, told the news website Haitian Truth. "It's going to be fascinating to see how many are in the race after 17 August."
The Unity party of Préval, who is stepping down as president, has backed Jude Celestin, head of the government's primary construction firm, as his successor.
The party had been expected to back a former prime minister, Jacques-Edouard Alexis, who instead registered with a different party, the Mobilisation for Haitian Progress. The horse-trading suggested that murky deals as much as votes could determine the election outcome.
Fresh doubts about Jean's fitness for office arose today from a New York Times investigation into apparent mismanagement and questionable accounting at his charity, Yéle Haiti. The newspaper alleged the charity had failed to deliver water as it had claimed to several camps of earthquake survivors, and that some donations vanished into blurred lines between Jean's business, political and charity endeavours. He denies any wrongdoing.
Yesterday his public relations representative, Euro RSCG Worldwide PR, announced without explanation that it had resigned from all public relations work for Yéle and Jean's presidential campaign.
The musician has batted away doubts about his suitability for office. "Celebrity has taught me that politics is politricks. The fact that I'm coming with this with fresh eyes but not naive ears, I think that's a good start."
Wyclef Jean has gone into hiding following alleged death threats as he awaits an official announcement on whether he can run in Haiti's November's presidential election.
The ex-Fugees star said he was at a secret location in Haiti in defiance of threats to leave the country but revealed few details about who may be responsible for the intimidation.
Jean's presidential hopes hang in the balance as electoral officials prepare to announce whether he is eligible to run in what promises to be a tumultuous contest with dozens of candidates.
A list of candidates who meet constitutional requirements to lead the earthquake-hit country – requirements that could disqualify Jean – was due to be published yesterday but officials said several unnamed candidates remained under review and that the announcement would not be made until Friday.
In a series of emails to the Associated Press, the 40-year-old rapper said he did not know whether the electoral commission, known as the CEP, would approve his candidacy but that there had been questions about whether he met residency requirements: "We await the CEP decision but the laws of the Haitian constitution must be respected."
His lawyers were at the commission's headquarters seeking to argue his case, he said. In the same emails he announced he was in hiding but did not elaborate on the nature of the threats.
If approved, Jean will be a frontrunner, but the fact he has lived in the US since he was a boy could put a premature end to a campaign launched two weeks ago with fanfare, dancers and hype.
Legal requirements and political intrigue – few believe the decision will be based on entirely technical reasons – could sink his hopes of swapping a recording studio for power in a broken country.
Jean was born in Croix-des-Bouquets, outside the capital, Port-au-Prince. At the age of nine he moved with his family to New York, then New Jersey, and made only fleeting return visits to the Caribbean.
Opponents said his history violated constitutional requirements that a candidate must have his or her "habitual residence" in Haiti and have resided in the country for at least five consecutive years before election day. Jean said his appointment as a roving ambassador by President René Préval in 2007 exempted him from residency requirements.
The race has drawn 34 candidates from diverse backgrounds, including veteran political operators and one-man band neophytes.
"This is a very volatile situation. The easiest thing they can say is 'You are all candidates'. But I don't know if they will do that," Robert Fatton, a Haiti-born political expert at the University of Virginia, told the news website Haitian Truth. "It's going to be fascinating to see how many are in the race after 17 August."
The Unity party of Préval, who is stepping down as president, has backed Jude Celestin, head of the government's primary construction firm, as his successor.
The party had been expected to back a former prime minister, Jacques-Edouard Alexis, who instead registered with a different party, the Mobilisation for Haitian Progress. The horse-trading suggested that murky deals as much as votes could determine the election outcome.
Fresh doubts about Jean's fitness for office arose today from a New York Times investigation into apparent mismanagement and questionable accounting at his charity, Yéle Haiti. The newspaper alleged the charity had failed to deliver water as it had claimed to several camps of earthquake survivors, and that some donations vanished into blurred lines between Jean's business, political and charity endeavours. He denies any wrongdoing.
Yesterday his public relations representative, Euro RSCG Worldwide PR, announced without explanation that it had resigned from all public relations work for Yéle and Jean's presidential campaign.
The musician has batted away doubts about his suitability for office. "Celebrity has taught me that politics is politricks. The fact that I'm coming with this with fresh eyes but not naive ears, I think that's a good start."
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Wyclef Jean - If I Were President - Lyrics
If I was president,
I'd get elected on Friday, assassinated on Saturday,
and buried on Sunday.
If I was president...
If I was president
An old man told me, instead of spending billions on the war,
we can use some of that money, in the ghetto.
I know some so poor, they use the spring as the shower,
when screaming "fight the power".
That's when the vulture devoured
[chorus]
If I was president,
I'd get elected on Friday, assassinated on Saturday,
and buried on Sunday.
If I was president...
If I was president...
If I was president...
If I was president
But the radio won't play this.
They call this rebel music.
How can you refuse it, children of Moses?
[chorus]
If I was president,
I'd get elected on Friday, assassinated on Saturday,
and buried on Sunday.
If I was president...
If i was president
Tell the children the truth, the truth.
Christopher Columbus didn't discover America.
Tell them the truth.
The truth
YEAH! Tell them about Marcus Garvey.
The truth YEAH! The truth.
Tell them about Martin Luther King.
Tell them the truth.
The Truth.
Tell them about JFK
If I was President
[chorus]
If I was president,
I'd get elected on Friday, assassinated on Saturday,
and buried on Sunday.
If I was president...
If I was president
I'd get elected on Friday, assassinated on Saturday,
and buried on Sunday.
If I was president...
If I was president
An old man told me, instead of spending billions on the war,
we can use some of that money, in the ghetto.
I know some so poor, they use the spring as the shower,
when screaming "fight the power".
That's when the vulture devoured
[chorus]
If I was president,
I'd get elected on Friday, assassinated on Saturday,
and buried on Sunday.
If I was president...
If I was president...
If I was president...
If I was president
But the radio won't play this.
They call this rebel music.
How can you refuse it, children of Moses?
[chorus]
If I was president,
I'd get elected on Friday, assassinated on Saturday,
and buried on Sunday.
If I was president...
If i was president
Tell the children the truth, the truth.
Christopher Columbus didn't discover America.
Tell them the truth.
The truth
YEAH! Tell them about Marcus Garvey.
The truth YEAH! The truth.
Tell them about Martin Luther King.
Tell them the truth.
The Truth.
Tell them about JFK
If I was President
[chorus]
If I was president,
I'd get elected on Friday, assassinated on Saturday,
and buried on Sunday.
If I was president...
If I was president
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Pras Questions Wyclef's Goals For Haiti
(mtv.com)
Pras spoke out against his former Fugees group member Wyclef's presidential run recently, explaining that he felt the hip-hop musician wasn't the right type of leader to help the poverty- and earthquake-ravaged country of Haiti. The "Ghetto Superstar" artist also criticized Wyclef's announcement on CNN, saying the political hopeful failed to deliver a vision.
Pras told MTV News that despite his friend's good intentions, he lacks the experience to develop policy to help the country in its vulnerable state.
"He talks about health care, he talks about education, he talks about infrastructure," Pras told MTV News. "But that's in any society. That's right here in America, we need that. But how are you gonna get to that point? There's a short-term goal that needs to be addressed and there's a long-term goal. To be honest with you, the short term is probably more important than the long term. And he didn't even mention the short term."
Wyclef also drew the ire of actor Sean Penn, who delivered a harsh commentary against the Haitian activist while appearing on CNN himself.
"Right now, I worry that this is a campaign that is more about a vision of flying around the world, talking to people. It's certainly not one of the youth drafting him," Penn said. "I would be quite sure that this is an influence of corporations here in the United States and private individuals that may well have capitalized on his will to see himself flying around the world.
Clef has said the people are drafting him to run.
"I feel like I'm being drafted by the population right now to give them a different face, a different voice," he said during his announcement.
Pras, though, noted his former Fugee mate speaks broken Creole and doesn't even speak French, key languages for Haitians, which will make his impending run difficult.
---------------------------
---------------------------
- Pras plans to support Wyclef's opponent, Michel "Sweet Micky" Martelly (who also happens to be a Haitian Musician). I guess this will be a battle of the "rock star candidates" -- Politics will have to take a backseat. Haiti's infrastucture may collapse even furthur, but at least we'll get some good music out of the deal...
...right?
Lauryn Hill, what say you?
Pras spoke out against his former Fugees group member Wyclef's presidential run recently, explaining that he felt the hip-hop musician wasn't the right type of leader to help the poverty- and earthquake-ravaged country of Haiti. The "Ghetto Superstar" artist also criticized Wyclef's announcement on CNN, saying the political hopeful failed to deliver a vision.
Pras told MTV News that despite his friend's good intentions, he lacks the experience to develop policy to help the country in its vulnerable state.
"He talks about health care, he talks about education, he talks about infrastructure," Pras told MTV News. "But that's in any society. That's right here in America, we need that. But how are you gonna get to that point? There's a short-term goal that needs to be addressed and there's a long-term goal. To be honest with you, the short term is probably more important than the long term. And he didn't even mention the short term."
Wyclef also drew the ire of actor Sean Penn, who delivered a harsh commentary against the Haitian activist while appearing on CNN himself.
"Right now, I worry that this is a campaign that is more about a vision of flying around the world, talking to people. It's certainly not one of the youth drafting him," Penn said. "I would be quite sure that this is an influence of corporations here in the United States and private individuals that may well have capitalized on his will to see himself flying around the world.
Clef has said the people are drafting him to run.
"I feel like I'm being drafted by the population right now to give them a different face, a different voice," he said during his announcement.
Pras, though, noted his former Fugee mate speaks broken Creole and doesn't even speak French, key languages for Haitians, which will make his impending run difficult.
---------------------------
---------------------------
- Pras plans to support Wyclef's opponent, Michel "Sweet Micky" Martelly (who also happens to be a Haitian Musician). I guess this will be a battle of the "rock star candidates" -- Politics will have to take a backseat. Haiti's infrastucture may collapse even furthur, but at least we'll get some good music out of the deal...
...right?
Lauryn Hill, what say you?
Monday, August 9, 2010
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Wyclef in Haiti prez race!
(Reuters)PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- Hip-hop star Wyclef Jean registered as a candidate yesterday for Haiti's November presidential election, in a move that has generated popular enthusiasm in the earthquake-ravaged nation.
"I would like to tell President Barack Obama that the United States has Obama, and Haiti has Wyclef Jean," the three-time Grammy award-winner told cheering supporters in downtown Port-au-Prince.
He spoke after registering his candidacy at Haiti's electoral council ahead of tomorrow's deadline.
Singer-songwriter Jean, 40, has never held elective office but is widely admired in Haiti and credited with never having forgotten his Haitian roots.
The former Fugees star was born in Haiti but grew up in New York and New Jersey.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)